Day: March 21, 2025

Queens’ Tour Opener Sunday Seoul & Busan: Race-By-Race Preview (March 23)

The Queens’ Tour Spring/Summer gets underway at Seoul on Sunday afternoon when a field of fourteen fillies and mares take their chance in the Dong-a Ilbo Trophy (1800M KOR-Listed). Neither of last year’s divisional standouts Wonderful Slew and Jeulgeounyeojeong are taking part and it looks set to be a fascinating affair. There are 11 races at Seoul on Sunday between 10:35 and 18:00, while there are 6 at Busan from 12:05 to 16:30. Here are the previews:

Jeulgeounyeojeong is back in training but she skips the Donga Ilbo (Pic: KRA)

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(5) ROAD TO A SPUR has been getting closer over the course of his four starts so far, culminating in 2nd place over this distance on February 16th when he led until the closing stages. He draws nicely to lead again here, and he will be a short price favourite to go one better. (6) HANEUL GAMDONG was an improved 4th at start number two at the start of January, coming from off the pace. He comes in fresh following eleven weeks off and he shapes as the main danger. Those two will fill out most quinella tickets. (7) BREEDO KING STAR has been a touch disappointing in two starts back from a lengthy absence. He had previously shown ability though and third-up, he may be fitter. (2) DOUBLE NINE and (10) LASER RUN others in the hunt for the minors.

Selections(5) Road To A Spur (6) Haneul Gamdong (7) Breedo King Star (2) Double Nine
Next Best10, 8
Fast Start4, 5, 7, 10

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(2) KOTAP enters off a best to date 2nd place at 1200M on February 22nd when she led for much of the way around. She has placed at this distance too and from a good draw and with Maia staying on, she can go one better today. The main danger is (3) DONGJIN THUNDER. She too enters off a runner-up finish at her latest appearance, in her case over this distance in a filly-only maiden on February 16th. She can settle handy and can run on. (10) BISANG BELL was an improved 3rd at start number two on February 23rd when ridden much further forward than on debut. She has the challenge of the widest gate but can build on that here. (6) HYEWONYONGMA and (7) CHEONJI LADY others in at least the placing frame.

Selections(2) Kotap (3) Dongjin Thunder (10) Bisang Bell (6) Hyewonyongma
Next Best7, 4
Fast Start2, 6, 7, 10

Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(6) GIANT BOSS got his maiden win at the third time of asking over this distance on February 9th when handy all the way. He is up in class but down in weight and he has every chance of measuring up in this company. (9) CHOWON DOLPUNG was a winner at this class over 1200M on February 15th in filly company. She is up 2kg in weight but that made it two from her latest three and she is not to be dismissed here. (10) ECLIPSE EDGE has a 3rd and a 2nd from his latest two, both of them at this class and distance. His sole win came from off the pace so the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem, and he shapes as a potential danger late on. The up in class last start winners (3) ECLIPSE LUCKY and (5) NAMSAN SONYEO may have a bit more to find but can be competitive.

Selections(6) Giant Boss (9) Chowon Dolpung (10) Eclipse Edge (3) Eclipse Lucky
Next Best5, 11
Fast Start2, 3,4, 9

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(5) DONGNAM DOLPUNG has made steady progress across his four starts so far, with his best being his latest when 2nd over this distance on February 21st when, as has been his pattern, he settled back and came from off the pace. Expect similar here and he will be hot favourite to come out on top this time. (9) GLOBAL HEROINE has two 3rd places from four starts, including her last start over 1200M on February 23rd. In this company she can be on pace, and she can be in this a long way. (11) GOLDEN SPOT has been poor in his latest two but does have the fastest time among these for the distance and under a light weight could provide some each-way interest. (10) BEOLGYOUI BOM and (2) TIP TAP, the latter making his return eight months on from his debut and who trialed well, are others to consider.

Selections(5) Dongnam Dolpung (9) Global Heroine (11) Golden Spot (10) Beolgyoui Bom
Next Best2, 6
Fast Start1, 2, 4, 9

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(2) GEUMA FOREMOST is yet to win from six attempts, but he has never been worse than 5th and comes in having run a very close 2nd at this class over 1300M on February 9th. His other runner-up finish came on his only previous try at this trip, and he looks to be the one to beat here. (9) GANDAGO comes in having run on from a long way back for 3rd place at 1300M on February 22nd. She is one for one at this distance and under a light weight, she is the main danger here. (11) LUCKY SUNNY could only manage midfield when tried at 1700M for his first go at this class on February 16th. At the start before he was a good maiden winner over 1300M and can appreciate the drop back to one turn. (3) B.K. BELLE and (6) YES MADAM are the other main placing chances.

Selections(2) Geuma Foremost (9) Gandago (11) Lucky Sunny (3) B.K. Belle
Next Best6, 5
Fast Start1, 2, 6, 8

Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

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Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (March 22)

Saturday’s racing is at Seoul with 10 races from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

CC Wong has plenty of chances this weekend (Pic: KRA)

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Nine maiden fillies and one gelding in the opener. (6) GEOLJAK HAPPY is one of only two in the field to have a top three finish on her record, something she managed last September over 1000M. She returned from three months out on February 23rd to run a fair 6th of eleven and stripping fitter today, has as good a chance as any. (9) NURI JILJU has run 6th in both her starts so far at 1300M and at this distance. She has demonstrated a decent start so in this company, she can be on pace and be a threat. (5) SEMYEONG GHOST is the other to have placed in her case when 3rd three starts back at 1300M and that’s enough to have her in contention here. (7) JISAN FRIEND and (2) GEUMGYEPORAN others who could potentially improve in a weak field.

Selections(6) Geoljak Happy (9) Nuri Jilju (5) Semyeong Ghost (7) Jisan Friend
Next Best2, 4
Fast Start6, 7, 9, 10

Seoul Race 2: Class 4 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million

Imported maidens with two standouts. After a positive trial (9) NICE FORCE was well supported on debut when he overcame the widest gate to sit handy and run on for 4th. That was back in December so he comes in here fresh after fourteen weeks out, Ruan Maia climbs on, and he can win. The danger is (5) TANSEONGUI BANSEOK. After a slow start, he rattled home from a long way back to beat three of today’s rivals when 2nd on debut on February 22nd. He comes into a much better gate this time and if he can be a bit closer a bit sooner, he can go one better. (3) GLOBAL COMPUTING did nothing on debut in January, but he has since been back to trial, which he came through well finishing in 2nd place in a decent time. CC being booked suggests he can be better this time around. (10) GLOBAL PHAROAH and (11) CALM IN STORM are potential other ones who can improve.

Selections(9) Nice Force (5) Tanseongui Banseok (3) Global Computing (10) Global Pharoah
Next Best11, 7
Fast Start1, 3, 7, 9

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(5) KARA K will be one of the shorter priced favourites of the day. She has three top five finishes from four starts so far with her best being a 2nd place two starts back over 1200M. She enters off a 4th place at 1300M on February 16th and while up to this trip for the first time, she won’t need to improve much to win this. (6) HERO CHOICE comes in off an improved 3rd place at start number three on February 22nd, coming from well back at 1300M. The slight increase in distance can suit and he can go close again here. Veteran maiden (9) TRES VITE is yet to finish in the top two in twenty-eight starts but he has no fewer than fourteen finishes between 3rd and 5th and this is the kind of company he can pick up a cheque in again. (7) LADYBIRD and (4) GRAY PHANTOM other place chances.

Selections(5) Kara K (6) Hero Choice (9) Tres Vite (7) Ladybird
Next Best4, 1
Fast Start2, 3, 4, 6

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(7) PASA KING is very much the one to beat here. He broke his maiden at start two last November and has since raced twice at this class and distance, running 3rd both times. He comes in under similar conditions and among slightly softer company, he can win. (1) ROYAL BEST doesn’t win out of turn but has plenty of minor money finishes and from a good draw, this is the kind of race in which he can be on pace and in things a long way. (4) HAKSAN DAESE will need a line drawn through her latest when she struggled from a wide draw. Harry climbs on here and he can be a danger. (5) SSANG OK RU and the up in class (10) LADY BLUE are others who can compete for the minors.

Selections(7) Pasa King (1) Royal Best (4) Haksan Daese (5) Ssang Ok Ru
Next Best10, 3
Fast Start1, 3, 7, 10

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

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